Meet Paul and Michelle

Committed to traveling wherever we can, whenever we can, and documenting our journeys through photography and writing. Paul takes the photos; Michelle does the writing. You wouldn’t want it any other way. Happy Travels! Paul and Michelle Shappirio

They say the third time is a charm, and I think Paul and I agree, this trip to California wine country was the best one yet. We did it all wrong the first time, improved upon it significantly the second time, and nailed it the third time. While I don’t regret any of our travel adventures, we often learn from our experiences. So, let’s recap: Trip #1-On our month-long cross country trip,… Read More

New Orleans This image of the St. Charles Streetcar reminds me of how timeless the city of New Orleans can feel. The architecture, the food, and the music have a quality and presence that takes you back to the past and keeps you in the present all at once. I highly recommend visiting at least once in your life. You will not regret it!

Impermanence Part Two This was Shea Stadium. My wife and I took a subway ride out to see it as it was being torn down. My father and I took that same subway line to see the Mets play when I was a child. As an adult, I got to return the favor and travelled the 7 line with Dad to see many ball games. The stadium was another place holder of… Read More

Impermanence Part One I lost my father in 2002. Fort Monmouth, my Dad’s workplace, was the military base near my hometown. In 2005 it was slated for closure by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Many of the buildings are being torn down including this one. The Hexagon, as it was known, was a place shrouded in mystery for me. My Dad’s work was classified and thus I was never allowed… Read More

This image was made from the Governor’s Island Oyster bar. As a child I always imagined about the lives of the people taking the Staten Island Ferry. They must all work in Manhattan, but who are they? Are they going home? Another job? Headed to dinner with loved ones? Facing a lonely microwaved dinner in front of the television? These thoughts still pass through my mind when I see these ships. Enjoy… Read More

Umbrellas in New York… Have you ever tried to walk through New York City while wielding an umbrella? This may seem like a fairly easy task, but I have never managed to accomplish the art in any graceful manner. I’m always bumping into other umbrellas, splashing water on myself, or getting stuck in doorways as I try to close the thing! I’ve also come close to losing an eyeball from other… Read More

This is one of our favorite memories from San Francisco. We took a tour on a Volkswagen bus with the company Vantigo. The bus takes you all over the city and you get to see stellar views like this one. We highly recommend this tour when visiting San Francisco, but we can’t promise that you won’t want to go in search of buying your own bus and living the van life afterwards…. Read More

It’s Christmas time in the city, and Paul and I made sure to kick off the holiday season with a Seastreak cruise into downtown New York. We’re committed to getting our SPG stays in before January 1, and the city gives us plenty of opportunity to move between hotels and rack up our stays. We enjoyed a stellar upgrade at the W Downtown on Friday night. They gave us a luxurious corner… Read More

This is my Paris. Several years ago, Paul and I rented an apartment in the 1st Arrondissement of the beautiful city of Paris. We stayed for the entire month of July. If you travel back in time on our blog, you can find many posts about our experience and learn about how it significantly changed our lives for the better. This weekend angry protesters lit the Champs Elysees ablaze in… Read More